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The political website of the New York Sun will report tomorrow that in a major reversal from an earlier position, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani now opposes civil unions between same sex partners.

The New York Republican has backed off his earlier support for civil unions, prompted by the passage of a law in New Hampshire's State Senate.

"In this specific case the law states same sex civil unions are the equivalent of marriage and recognizes same sex unions from outside states. This goes too far and Mayor Giuliani does not support it," the Giuliani campaign said in a written response sent to the Sun's Ryan Sager.

The Sun notes that Giuliani had said in 2004 on Fox News, "I'm in favor of...civil unions."

Sager suggests that Giuliani is staking out the position in order to secure himself among charges that he's too liberal to win the Republican vote.

"Yesterday's statement is likely to lead many observers to question whether the former mayor is concerned that his socially liberal record and positions aren't flying in the Republican primary," he writes in a post tomorrow on the New York Sun's Politics website. "While he still holds a commanding lead in the national polls, he has taken a hit over the last month or so after reiterating his support for the public funding of abortion."

An additional excerpt from Sager's article is presented below. You can read the full article at the New York Sun Politics website.

I really don't think Giuliani has a snowball's chance in hell, especially not running on the Republican ticket.

You would think that after 8 years under the boot of King George II that people would have had enough of the scandals and pointless war, and the exploitation of the poor.

Anyway, I will be voting for Barack Obama, I think he'll make it, the worst thing the Democrats could do right now is go with Hillary Clinton.

As far as immigration goes, I don't think any of them have an acceptable policy, that wall on the Mexican border should span the whole length, and there should be soldiers at checkpoints along the way with orders to shoot on sight.

As far as immigration goes, I don't think any of them have an acceptable policy, that wall on the Mexican border should span the whole length, and there should be soldiers at checkpoints along the way with orders to shoot on sight.

What? That they're bleeding the country dry and the government won't stop them?

The only reason the politicians want them here is so they can scrub toilets and flip burgers for sub-minimum wages.

I guess all the more reason for me to be going to college this fall, pretty soon (in a couple years that is), I'll be making $25 an hour, and they can bag all my groceries they want, I'll even be sure to drop a toilet bomb at Mcdonalds for them.

That reminds me of a joke......"How do you get 25 people to run out the fire door at a Mcdonalds in Dayton?" "Shout 'INS!!!'"

Well if they dont do it who will? Americans for the most part have to much pride to do those kind of jobs....but they must be done.....

People complain that they take all the work but then they get offered a job and they say "nahhh i dont want to do that".....so many (not all) are productive members to society....

for the most part mexicans and illegal immigrants are not getting the kind of jobs that most americans are trying to get.....once they become legal then its another story (if they have an education) because being educated and bilingual will get you picked quickly..

Well if they dont do it who will? Americans for the most part have to much pride to do those kind of jobs....but they must be done.....

People complain that they take all the work but then they get offered a job and they say "nahhh i dont want to do that".....so many (not all) are productive members to society....

for the most part mexicans and illegal immigrants are not getting the kind of jobs that most americans are trying to get.....once they become legal then its another story (if they have an education) because being educated and bilingual will get you picked quickly..

Hell, you have to find a job if you're on most forms of government assistance, or prove you're in some kind of training.

So you're telling me that an American would rather starve to death and live in a cardboard box than bag groceries?

Yeah, and I've had a few run ins here and there where they expected me to speak Spanish, I understand them, but I don't pay attention until they speak to me in English.

Many of the people where I live rather starve than bag groceries....myself included hence the reason im unemployed.....but i would settle for an office job which will be a lot easier once summer rolls around and i have a better schedule....my class hours suck this semester spread out through the whole day

but besides the fact there are PLENTY of jobs out there even though there are immigrants that do take some of the citizens jobs ...they are less attractive than grocery bagging jobs.....dont worry once the democrats come into office there will be plenty more jobs available...and i know your going to say "jobs that are a waste of money"

Many of the people where I live rather starve than bag groceries....myself included hence the reason im unemployed.....but i would settle for an office job which will be a lot easier once summer rolls around and i have a better schedule....my class hours suck this semester spread out through the whole day

but besides the fact there are PLENTY of jobs out there even though there are immigrants that do take some of the citizens jobs ...they are less attractive than grocery bagging jobs.....dont worry once the democrats come into office there will be plenty more jobs available...and i know your going to say "jobs that are a waste of money"

Well, this "free trade" has stripped too much of our infrastructure, it could be repaired, but it would take decades, and the voters all want instant gratification, I'd say the Dems might win this round, but when they fail to make it all magically better in 4 years time, people will have already forgotten about the reign of King George and the Republicans will be back again.

If they can get here then let them stay....It shows that they rather die trying to go somewhere else than live where they are at....in my opinion that takes strength, courage and character....

There are many nutjob cubans but more nutjob americans....Cubans are hard workers and can bring a lot of good to society...of course you have your bad "apples" but thats the case in many situations....If they can get here then they should be able to stay....In their country they cannot get ahead or prosper because they have to deal with what their goverment decides to give them...Why not give someone a chance to live there own life and make what they want of it?? its not their fault they were born in the wrong place at the wrong time....

Here in Puerto Rico there is a high influx of dominicans and cubans and people say bad shit about them also....people dont like anyone that is not of their own heritage and ideas....its sad really

If they can get here then let them stay....It shows that they rather die trying to go somewhere else than live where they are at....in my opinion that takes strength, courage and character....

There are many nutjob cubans but more nutjob americans....Cubans are hard workers and can bring a lot of good to society...of course you have your bad "apples" but thats the case in many situations....If they can get here then they should be able to stay....In their country they cannot get ahead or prosper because they have to deal with what their goverment decides to give them...Why not give someone a chance to live there own life and make what they want of it?? its not their fault they were born in the wrong place at the wrong time....

Here in Puerto Rico there is a high influx of dominicans and cubans and people say bad shit about them also....people dont like anyone that is not of their own heritage and ideas....its sad really

There's a woman at the nursing home I'm doing my clinicals at, she was brought to the US when she was 4 years old, they recently discovered that her adoption papers were forged and that she is therefore in the country illegally, so they're giving her a hard time and they want to deport her but they don't even know where she is from, could be Mexico, could be Guatamala, she doesn't even speak Spanish, now they've given her a work permit and a temporary green card til they get the mess sorted and figure out what they're going to do.

Now my question is, why do so many people come here illegally from Mexico, refuse to learn English, live off the system, don't pay taxes, etcetera, and the government does nothing about them, but when there's a woman who's lived here practically her whole life, speaks English, and has a damn strong work ethic, they're trying to deport her?

The goverment does do something about it if the illegal imigrants are caught....There are rules you know....

but catching people is hard to do considering the US has always been a culturally diverse country....its not like other countries where everyone is blonde hair and blue eyed and then you have very few latinos.....

I doubt many Mexicans that arent paying taxes are living off the system...how much goverment help do they get if they arent supposed to be here??? As far as taxes go not all but many imigrants do file taxes because the IRS tries to give people the opportunity to pay taxes without reporting them to the INS....If the immigrants have a history of papying taxes when they do go to file to be legally admitted they have a better chance of getting in because they have "contributed to society".....but tax evasion is just as prevalent among imigrants as americans....do you think i claimed all the tips i made waiting tables? NOPE....im just as guilty....so its not only imigrants that try to beat the system its the whole "under-the-table/underground economy"

I love Rudy! Our enemies will fear him, he has said as much. Course they also might fear Hillary, I would never want to cross that woman. She has an evil eye like no other person I have ever seen.Yeah, I would say if you want to keep everyone in line, vote for either Rudy or Hill. HIll would def kick ass.

I love Rudy! Our enemies will fear him, he has said as much. Course they also might fear Hillary, I would never want to cross that woman. She has an evil eye like no other person I have ever seen.Yeah, I would say if you want to keep everyone in line, vote for either Rudy or Hill. HIll would def kick ass.

there are times when I think maybe she is on the up and up and then she starts doing this southern accent thing again to african american audiences. What is this about? The first time she did it, she made a total fool of herself,but I guess she is now saying thats just the way she talks in the south. Well, I have lived in the South for 30 years and I have never heard anyone sound like that. Disgusting.I dont know that I could vote for her, but I am just saying there are some things she might be good at. Unlike most Dems,who mindlessly attack just to attack out of pure hatred, most conservatives will support a Dem president on many issues,especially those beyond our borders.I think she is very tough, but she doesnt have very good communication skills, and that is what has killed our current president. When her husband was being attacked by the right during his years in office he had people out everyday 24/7 smearing the prosecutors and supporting him. I guess she will have that whole pr machine at her disposal but she isnt a very good public speaker. She's better than Bush, but thats not saying much is it.I also think if she gets in we could spend another 8 years like the past 8. She has much dirt in her big closet. The whole campaign finance irregularities from that time are still out there. I say no more Bushes and no more Clintons. Give us someone new. I like Rudy. I like Richardson. Everyone else appears full of shit.After the last two presidents I think almost anyone could be president and not fuck the country up.

There are so many things I want to respond to in this thread (including Milker's 'job' search) but I'll sum up, without dissing my lawn-mowing kinfolk, by saying that the govenment is doing something about illegal immigrants, here in Texas, especially the ones they can catch because they're slowed down by their families. The link below is from December, and conditions have gotten a little better but not much.

Basquo I guess you mean that my job search was a bit "sparse". All I wanted to show is that there are jobs out there, out of 294 there must be one that he could take. Also I restricted to 1 year experience, he seems to be a pretty good linux geek, maybe there is stuff out there for him, or remotely.

In my job working on an account for a nameless corporate conglomerate with 'golden arches', I can realistically state that they do hire people regularly with made up social security numbers. I know this because they cannot enroll in their 401k plan without a valid ssn or tax id number and we send out letters to have them 'correct' their 'mistyped' ssn so they can enroll.

All too often the callers can't even verify their own date of birth. WTF? You really don't even know when you were born?

Me smell illegal immigrants and a corporation turning a blind eye to the problem.

there are times when I think maybe she is on the up and up and then she starts doing this southern accent thing again to african american audiences. What is this about? The first time she did it, she made a total fool of herself,but I guess she is now saying thats just the way she talks in the south. ...

Personally, I don't get why anyone would want to be married anyway, most of the time it doesn't work out.

It has nothing to do with "marriage" per se, but the rights that go along with it, for example, the right to make health decisions regarding your partner if he is incapacitated, federal tax rights, rights of inheritance, and the list goes on and on. There was a report done recently that listed the rights a married couple has that those in a gay relationship do not - it was over 500. I will try to find that.

Frankly, I agree with you about marriage itself, it is overrated. My partner and I lasted 18 years, much longer than both of my sisters who have been married twice and looking for their third - and even after swearing before God and 700 of my partent's closest friends that what God has joined let no man put assunder, or some crap like that. Jim

If those are the reasons you use in entering marriage,your marriage will fail. I know of no man and women who got married because of those reasons. I guess some have, I just dpnt know of any.You get married to someone cause they make you laugh or make you Happy. You marry someone because you think having them as a partner will make you a better or stronger person. You dont marry someone because of tax benefits(which are almost nil), or benefits, or money, if you do you will be miserable and your marriage will probably fail.A successfull marriage means changing personal habits, which is a tough adjustment for all of us, a lot of compromising,which usually means doing what your wife wants to do. Personal benefits or tax treatments have nothing to do with it.If it was just tax benefits wouldnt the gay side except something where they would have a union not called marriage but with all of marriages tax benifits and survivors rights? If it was really just a case of tax benefits and other crap why care what the union is called? The gay side wants their union to be called marriage because they believe they are no different than any one else, and that they are equals to heterosexuals. I think? If all humans are equal,why should their unions be called something different?

If those are the reasons you use in entering marriage,your marriage will fail. I know of no man and women who got married because of those reasons. I guess some have, I just dpnt know of any.You get married to someone cause they make you laugh or make you Happy. You marry someone because you think having them as a partner will make you a better or stronger person. You dont marry someone because of tax benefits(which are almost nil), or benefits, or money, if you do you will be miserable and your marriage will probably fail.A successfull marriage means changing personal habits, which is a tough adjustment for all of us, a lot of compromising,which usually means doing what your wife wants to do. Personal benefits or tax treatments have nothing to do with it.If it was just tax benefits wouldnt the gay side except something where they would have a union not called marriage but with all of marriages tax benifits and survivors rights? If it was really just a case of tax benefits and other crap why care what the union is called? The gay side wants their union to be called marriage because they believe they are no different than any one else, and that they are equals to heterosexuals. I think? If all humans are equal,why should their unions be called something different?

Giulani’s flip flop has nothing to do with marriage. The marriage debate is just another way of dividing this country and getting votes – why do you think Giulani switched his position!

Frankly, you don't need a marriage certificate for someone to make you laugh or happy, or to make a life time commitment to someone – that is done internally between two people and no certificate in the world or nothing the church or government does can change it.

But because of the way the laws are centered around marriage, it does make a difference. It sure would be nice to know that if your partner/husband was in the hospital and incapacitated and not able to make decisions on his on that you had some rights in the say of his treatment. Now, unless you have a living will, you have zero rights – zippo – nothing – no say at all. And from the experiences I have heard of you really have to force the doctors and hospitals to respect and recognize the rights under the living will.

As for taxes, and filing jointly, I would love to be able to leave my future partner everything I/we worked for in our lives without him having to pay inheritance taxes on it.

I found the site I was looking for. As I said, it is an issue of equality - here are a few rights which a gay couple, even if they have entered into a civil union (Vermont excluded - as it is the most progressive state giving gay couples virtually the same rights under state law as straight couples - but they can not effect the federal law differences). 1. Joint parental rights of children 2. Joint adoption 3. Status as "next-of-kin" for hospital visits and medical decisions 4. Right to make a decision about the disposal of loved ones remains 5. Immigration and residency for partners from other countries 6. Crime victims recovery benefits 7. Domestic violence protection orders 8. Judicial protections and immunity 9. Automatic inheritance in the absence of a will 10. Public safety officers death benefits 11. Spousal veterans benefits 12. Social Security 13. Medicare 14. Joint filing of tax returns 15. Wrongful death benefits for surviving partner and children 16. Bereavement or sick leave to care for partner or children 17. Child support 18. Joint Insurance Plans 19. Tax credits including: Child tax credit, Hope and lifetime learning credits 20. Deferred Compensation for pension and IRAs 21. Estate and gift tax benefits 22. Welfare and public assistance 23. Joint housing for elderly 24. Credit protection 25. Medical care for survivors and dependents of certain veterans These are just a few of the 1400 state and federal benefits that gays and lesbians are denied by not being able to marry.

Than your argument is with your own side. If the gay "powers that be" put forth a movement for a union,not called marriage, but with all of marriages financial benefits,I think there is a better than 50% it would fly.

Rudy is the best Republican candidate and unfortunately he has to kneel to the Christian Nazis to keep them on board in the primaries and I think the only republican who has a chance to win. All Dems and Reps do the same thing in the primaries, I hate it too, but it is what it is.I think after the last two presidents no one want to hear another southern twang for awhile except for the true believers on each side. Give me Rudy and someone from the west as VP. Put Richardson on the Dem ticket with Harold Ford as VP and the Dems win in a route. Everyone else in the race,so far, are just the usual whores.

I never said there werent benefits to marriage, I was just saying I dont know anyone who got married for a single reason on that list. The government supports marriage like it does many businesses and interest groups. It is to the benefit of government for more men and women to be married in hopes they will produce more taxpayers. Follow the money. If you are a politician you want more children because they will be paying for your extravagant spending bills and government retirement package. My other point is, if all you want is that list of financial benefits, push for the your side to accept unions,not called marriage, but with all the benes.